About The Teacher

NAME: Ms. Cynthia Ann Swan

SCHOOL: Sahuarita Intermediate School

CLASS: Music 3-5 (general music, choir, orchestra)

SCHOOL PHONE: (520) 625-3502 x 1246

About The Teacher

I hold an M.F.A. Degree (a doctoral equivalent) in Glass Sculpture and 
Painting from Rochester Institute of Technology, School of American Crafts. I 
also have a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a concentration in 
voice and strings. I have been a professional artist for over 20 years, and 
an arts educator for 16.  I have a background in modern dance and theater.  I 
have adjudicated Massachusetts All-State Art and New York All-County Jazz 
Music Competitions, and served as a Representative on the Northern Berkshire 
Regional Art Council. I have been an All-County Conductor for Elementary, 
Junior, and Jazz choruses.  I compose and choreograph many compositions for 
my choirs.

I eagerly joined the Sahuarita Unified School District
#30, Sahuarita, AZ, in July, 2007.  While hired initially as the Music 
Teacher, I have been asked to serve as the Arts Educator for the Sahuarita 
Intermediate School(SIS), incorporating general music, visual art, choir, 
band, and orchestra into the curriculum.  I am also contemplating mounting a 
musical in the spring.  I look forward to working with staff, parents and 
students to determine their interest and input, and welcome volunteers and 
support from everyone in the Sahuarita community!

Mission for the Music Program

My vision for music programming at SIS is motivated by a desire to share the 
excitement I have always felt about creating and performing, along with my 
belief that the arts are critically important in the healthy development of a 
child.  Studies have shown the connection between creative disciplines and 
success in the academic areas of math and science.  I also feel strongly 
about the need for personal expression in determining who we are and what we 
desire to become.

The theme for this year's Music season is "A Garden of Dreams".  At a time
when many children fear they will never be heard or understood, the arts offer 
them a personal voice and a universal language with which to communicate 
their feelings, dreams, and ideas to the world.

In addition, we will be providing our students with a strong foundation of
musical skills, including singing, playing instruments, composition, music
history, movement, expressive movement and musical theater.  We hope you will
join us in our creative endeavors, so that we may state with confidence that
"dreams are grown here" at SIS.